Union to announce details later this week on rotating strikes

Striking detail

DURHAM -- Parents will receive 72 hours' notice if teachers go on strike in the Durham and Kawartha school boards this month.

Members of the Elementary Teachers' Federation of Ontario are expected to go on rotating strikes throughout December in opposition to the controversial Bill 115, after president Sam Hammond made an announcement last week.

"It is unfortunate that we have been placed in the position of having to strike by Education Minister Laurel Broten, but we will provide parents with ample notice to ensure the safety of students," he said. "By her actions, the minister has let everyone down by stripping teachers and education professionals of their democratic rights, and shutting down recent talks at the provincial level."

Kawartha Pine Ridge ETFO Local president Dave Wing said Tuesday he had no details on the time or duration of a local strike, but an ETFO press release said the union will announce details later this week.

We're still hopeful, even at this hour. Dave Wing,

Since Nov. 26, elementary teachers in the Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board have been in a legal strike position and embarked on a work-to-rule campaign, boycotting field trips, extracurricular activities and meetings.

Teachers in the Durham District School Board will be in a legal strike position starting Dec. 10.

Bill 115 freezes teacher wages and cuts benefits, gives the minister of education the power to end strikes, and gives local school boards and teacher unions until Dec. 31 to come up with contracts. The minister has instructed bargainers to reach new deals similar to the one the Province signed with Ontario's Catholic elementary teachers in the summer.

Mr. Wing said although the strikes are set to occur, if the minister is willing to come to the table with some "real solutions, a lot of things could change between now and then."

"We're still hopeful, even at this hour," he said.

However, on Friday Ms. Broten said she has no such plans.

"The Putting Students First Act was passed by a significant majority of MPPs," said her spokeswoman Alyssa Armstrong. "Repealing this necessary piece of legislation that gives the government tools to protect full-day kindergarten, small class sizes and 20,000 teaching and support staff jobs is not on the table."

A letter sent home to parents in Kawartha said if a strike was to occur, the board would ensure parents are aware. It also indicated that the schools would not be able to provide a safe environment for students, and the affected schools would have to close throughout a strike.

"It is not clear whether all or some of our schools would be affected, or for how long a full strike would last," the letter said.

The Durham board said in a posting on its website that it is "committed to sharing information with school communities as soon as it becomes available."

-- With files from the Torstar news service

Kristen Calis covers Pickering and writes a pet column for the Metroland Media Group’s Durham Region Division. Anyone with upcoming animal charity events that they would like listed in Kristen’s Kritters can e-mail kcalis@durhamregion.com.